The Matchmaker’s Choice (Extended Epilogue)
September, 1818
If one were to open a dictionary to look up the definition of the word “happiness,” one might see a portrait of Susan Forbes right next to it as an example. She could not remember ever being quite so happy. Two years into her marriage to the love of her life had not dampened her love and affection for him at all. A week after their wedding, they set off for the most wonderful honeymoon a woman could have asked for. Benjamin had done the Grand Tour before as a younger man, but he had been eager to show his new wife all of the splendor of the Continent and make love to her in every beautiful site of significance. He’d had her in the bedroom of the finest hotel in Paris, in the carriage ride through the Black Forest, in a garden in Switzerland, and even on the balcony of their hotel in Venice.
All of that lovemaking was proven fruitful as a year later, Susan had given birth to a bundle of joy they called George after her late father. The both of them had been overjoyed. They doted on him, as did their grandmothers.
Susan was kept busy not just by her infant son but by her business. Her mother had officially given her full charge of the Eros Agency. Of course, Susan still consulted her for help, especially when she’d just given birth to George, but it was solely her business. She still did not want to have an office for it, as she felt that to be too impersonal, so she ran her business out of the drawing room in her new home. And now, she even had a business partner. After realizing that Jane was actually quite adept at reading people, she invited her on to be a matchmaker as well. Mrs. Epping, as she was called now, had been delighted. She was pregnant wth her second child and her daughter Elizabeth was a year older than George. She, too, had never been happier.
In order to have privacy and make room for more children throughout the years, Benjamin purchased a large and lovely home in the nicest part of Bath. They visited Pembroke at Christmas and during the summer, but both of them really preferred city life to the country. It was large and roomy, and Susan had decorated it in a way that suited both of them. Light-colored walls with beautiful chintz upholstery on all the furniture invited guests in, no matter if they were family or complete strangers seeking a match.
It was the last days of summer, and there was only a little bit of time left before the start of the Season. Susan and Jane sat in the garden at the back of Susan’s house, watching their babies crawl or toddle around. They had originally been placed on a large blanket in the grass but had since branched out and decided to pick up the blades of grass and throw them around like confetti. The children giggled as they watched the green blades flutter in the evening breeze.
“Isn’t it lovely to see them playing like this?” Jane asked, a smile on her face. It still had the cherubic roundness of her youth but with more maturity and wisdom.
“Oh yes. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of watching them discover new things,” Susan agreed. “Speaking of new things… you’ve a new one coming along soon. How are you feeling? Are you all prepared?”
“Oh, indeed. John has been most attentive. And it was so lovely of your mother and mother-in-law to send those baskets. They will be most helpful.”
“My mother considers you as one of her daughters, too,” Susan said.
After Lady Notley had disowned her daughter, Jane had not spoken to her. It had been years. It must be painful, Susan often thought to herself. Even if they had never gotten along and Jane had felt stifled by her overbearing mother, there was still a bond between mothers and daughters that she could not even begin to explain. She had only asked Jane about it on one occasion, who had airily replied that she was happy with her current situation. Susan never brought it up again, perhaps it was still painful, or perhaps Jane was doing her best to separate herself from her mother completely. At least her husband’s family loved her. And Susan’s own mother loved her, as well—it was not untrue to say that Louisa Seymour thought of Jane as her own daughter.
The sun began to lower in the sky, and the babies grew tired. They crawled less and demanded attention. Susan and Jane scooped up their respective children and made their way into the kitchen, procuring snacks. The cook, a sweet older woman with a ruddy face from standing in a hot kitchen all day, smiled sweetly at them.
“I’ll put on the kettle for ye ladies an’ have it brought out to ye in the drawing room,” she said in her Northern accent.
“Thank you, Prue. That would be most helpful,” Susan said. She’d made it a point to get to know all the new staff they’d hired. Stokes and Haxby were still with them, as were many others. It took a lot to run the household of a future Duke, Susan realized early on in her marriage.
When they reached the drawing room, the babies were asleep. There were cradles by the hearth, so each woman put their child in their respective cradles before moving over to the sofa. One of the maids brought tea in, and both women thanked her profusely. Susan asked after the young woman’s health and family while Jane watched admiringly.
“It is impressive that you know specific things about each of your staff,” Jane said after the maid left.
“I tried very hard to learn all I could when I first started. I never wanted to be one of those women who just ordered their servants about with no regard for their personal lives.”
“You do it well. How is his lordship?” Jane asked, sipping the tea.
Susan set her cup down in her saucer and placed both on the table.
“He is busy. His father is teaching him all he can about running the estates and everything he’ll need to take care of when he takes over as Duke.”
“Is the current Duke in good health?” Jane asked.
“He is simply growing older. His eyesight and memory are not as good as they used to be, and I’ve heard him say he wants to pass things onto his son before he can no longer remember them.”
“Oh, how very sad,” Jane said, resting her hands on her swollen belly. She wasn’t due for another couple of months, but her tummy was still large enough that she could comfortably perch her hands upon it.
“I thought so too, but Ben says it is a fact of life. I think he is also scared and doesn’t want to admit anything worse is wrong. But… this is upsetting. I must ask, how is Mr. Epping’s new business?”
“Very fine indeed,” Jane said warmly.
Mr. Epping had been the head groom for her parents’ horses, and now, he ran his own private stable system and offered riding lessons for the elites’ children. The two of them had a place just outside Bath, in the country, surrounded by animals of all kinds. Jane had always adored them so.
Susan was about to ask another question, but at that moment, Haxby appeared in the doorway.
“I am sorry to interrupt, my lady, but you have a guest in the receiving room.”
“Family? Friend?” Susan asked.
“A prospective client, I believe. She insists on seeing you.”
Jane gave Susan a knowing look. The both of them rose and followed Haxby to the receiving room while a maid stayed in the drawing room to watch the children in case they woke up.
In the receiving room, a young woman, pale and freckled, with curly red hair that stuck out from behind her bonnet, paced back and forth. She stopped when Jane and Susan entered the room.
Upon seeing both of them, she curtsied rather clumsily and hurriedly.
“This is the Eros Agency, isn’t it? I was afraid I had the wrong address. Am I in the right place?”
Susan laughed warmly, and Jane smiled.
“Yes indeed. I am Lady Forbes, and this is my business partner, Mrs. Epping. How can we help you?”
The young woman’s worried expression melted into one of relief.
“Oh, I hope you can help me. The season is about to start soon, and I have such urgent business to discuss with you.”
“Come with us; we were just about to have tea. And you can tell us everything.”
And with that, it was back to business once more.
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Loved it!! The characters really came to life. Would love to read a book based on Ben’s sister next!!
Hello my dear Stephanie, I am so happy to hear that! I loved Alexia as well, and I would really like to explore her story in a future book!
This is a story where the characters come to life
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Gwen! I am so happy you enjoyed the story!
A whole new aspect on matchmaking for the gentry. Susan put her own unhappy experience of being unlucky in love to good use by helping her mother arrange suitable marriages for the ton and in doing so met her own match in Benjamin, Lord Forbes. He wasn’t looking for a wife but found her nevertheless.
Hello my dear Wendy, thank you for your comment! I am so happy you enjoyed the book!